GB2125935A - Universal joints - Google Patents

Abstract

A Hookes universal joint comprises a yoke 10 having separate removable limbs 12, 13 each with a bore receiving a bearing cup 19, the limbs interfitting with a body part 17 of the yoke for alignment and the end surfaces of the bearing cups being abutted by formations 22 on the body part to locate them radially of the axis of rotation of the joint. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hookes universal joints This invention relates to hookes universal joint, comprising two yokes each having spaced limbs affording opposed bores which receive bearing cups to support, for pivotal movement, opposed journals of a cross-member so that the yokes are connected together for universal pivotal movement.

It is known that a yoke of a hookes joint can be constructed with its limbs in two parts, namely a base portion and a removable cap portion. Part of the bore in a limb is defined by the base portion, and part by the cap portion which is usually secured by bolts to the base portion of the limb.

The bearing cup is clamped between the base portion and cap portion. The purpose of this is to facilitate replacement of the bearing cups and cross-member of the joint in situ i.e. without requiring removal of the joint and associated shaft components from the vehicle or other machine or apparatus in which it is installed. This construction has a disadvantage, however, in that the bearing cup may be distorted by being clamped in position in its limb. This is a problem as there is increasingly a tendency to make bearing cups as thin-walled as possible in order to achieve the maximum torque transmitting capacity in a given overall size of joint. Such thinwalled bearing cups are more vulnerable to distortion. It is also known for the limbs of the yoke themselves to form the outer races of the bearings, without the provision of separate bearing cups.Such limbs, which typically are bolted to a yoke body are expensive to manufacture.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or reduce this disadvantage.

According to the invention, we provide a hookes universal joint wherein at least one of the yokes of the joint has its limbs formed as individual separate components secured to a body part of the yoke, each limb having a bore in which is received its bearing cup and the limbs and body part having inter-engaging formations which locate the limbs relative to the body part and the body part of the yoke including formations which engage end surfaces of the bearing cups, to locate the bearing cups radially of the axis of rotation of the cross-member.

The advantage of this construction is that the bearing cups, by being held within bores in the limb components of the joint yoke, are not vulnerable to distortion as is the case when the bearing cups are clamped by caps secured to the limbs. Replacement of the outer races of the bearings involves only replacement of the bearing cups and not of the entire limbs. Individual limb components are relatively easy to manufacture and instal, the latter being important if installation has to be carried out in a confined space.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a hookes universal joint according to the invention.

The illustrated universal joint comprises two yokes 10, 1 adapted to be connected to rotary drive-line components. The yokes have spaced parallel limbs, indicated generally at 12, 1 3 for the yoke 10 and one of which is visible at 14 for yoke 11. The limbs have opposed bores which receive bearing cups, which in turn receive outwardly extending journals of a cross-member 15 with the intermediary of needle roller bearings.

Thus the yokes are connected together for universal pivotal movement relative to one another.

For the yoke 10, each of the limbs 12,13 comprises a separate component 16, secured to a body part 17 of the yoke by two bolts as 18. The limbs 1 6 have bores in which are received their associated bearing cups (19).

The limbs 16 have flat surfaces 20 which abut corresponding flat surfaces on the body part 1 7 of the yoke 10. A wall formation 21 extends clear from each of the flat surfaces on the body part 17, and engages in a corresponding groove in its respective limb 1 6, so that the limb is accurately located relative to the body part of the yoke. The body part also has formations 22 which engage the end surfaces of the bearing cups, so that the bearing cups are located in directions radially of the axis of rotation of the cross-member of the joint. Thrust washers capable of yielding are interposed between the ends of the crossmember journals and the end walls of the bearing cups, so that the cross member of the joint is correctly supported against movement radially of its axis of rotation.

By virtue of the construction of the joint, having its bearing cups held in the bores in the separate limb components 16, the joint can easily be dismantled when installed in a vehicle or machine, and yet the bearing cups remain adequately supported against distortion.

Claims

1. A hookes joint wherein at least one of the yokes of the joint has its limbs formed as individual separate components secured to a body part of the yoke, each limb having a bore receiving its bearing cup and the limbs and body part having inter-engaging formations which locate the limbs relative to the body part, and the body part of the yoke includes formations which engage end surfaces of the bearing cups, to locate the bearing cups radially of the axis of rotation of the cross-member.

2. A joint according to Claim 1 wherein said limbs are secured to said body part by bolts.

3. A joint substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Hookes universal joints This invention relates to hookes universal joint, comprising two yokes each having spaced limbs affording opposed bores which receive bearing cups to support, for pivotal movement, opposed journals of a cross-member so that the yokes are connected together for universal pivotal movement. It is known that a yoke of a hookes joint can be constructed with its limbs in two parts, namely a base portion and a removable cap portion. Part of the bore in a limb is defined by the base portion, and part by the cap portion which is usually secured by bolts to the base portion of the limb. The bearing cup is clamped between the base portion and cap portion. The purpose of this is to facilitate replacement of the bearing cups and cross-member of the joint in situ i.e. without requiring removal of the joint and associated shaft components from the vehicle or other machine or apparatus in which it is installed. This construction has a disadvantage, however, in that the bearing cup may be distorted by being clamped in position in its limb. This is a problem as there is increasingly a tendency to make bearing cups as thin-walled as possible in order to achieve the maximum torque transmitting capacity in a given overall size of joint. Such thinwalled bearing cups are more vulnerable to distortion. It is also known for the limbs of the yoke themselves to form the outer races of the bearings, without the provision of separate bearing cups.Such limbs, which typically are bolted to a yoke body are expensive to manufacture. It is the object of the present invention to overcome or reduce this disadvantage. According to the invention, we provide a hookes universal joint wherein at least one of the yokes of the joint has its limbs formed as individual separate components secured to a body part of the yoke, each limb having a bore in which is received its bearing cup and the limbs and body part having inter-engaging formations which locate the limbs relative to the body part and the body part of the yoke including formations which engage end surfaces of the bearing cups, to locate the bearing cups radially of the axis of rotation of the cross-member. The advantage of this construction is that the bearing cups, by being held within bores in the limb components of the joint yoke, are not vulnerable to distortion as is the case when the bearing cups are clamped by caps secured to the limbs. Replacement of the outer races of the bearings involves only replacement of the bearing cups and not of the entire limbs. Individual limb components are relatively easy to manufacture and instal, the latter being important if installation has to be carried out in a confined space. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a hookes universal joint according to the invention. The illustrated universal joint comprises two yokes 10, 1 adapted to be connected to rotary drive-line components. The yokes have spaced parallel limbs, indicated generally at 12, 1 3 for the yoke 10 and one of which is visible at 14 for yoke 11. The limbs have opposed bores which receive bearing cups, which in turn receive outwardly extending journals of a cross-member 15 with the intermediary of needle roller bearings. Thus the yokes are connected together for universal pivotal movement relative to one another. For the yoke 10, each of the limbs 12,13 comprises a separate component 16, secured to a body part 17 of the yoke by two bolts as 18. The limbs 1 6 have bores in which are received their associated bearing cups (19). The limbs 16 have flat surfaces 20 which abut corresponding flat surfaces on the body part 1 7 of the yoke 10. A wall formation 21 extends clear from each of the flat surfaces on the body part 17, and engages in a corresponding groove in its respective limb 1 6, so that the limb is accurately located relative to the body part of the yoke. The body part also has formations 22 which engage the end surfaces of the bearing cups, so that the bearing cups are located in directions radially of the axis of rotation of the cross-member of the joint. Thrust washers capable of yielding are interposed between the ends of the crossmember journals and the end walls of the bearing cups, so that the cross member of the joint is correctly supported against movement radially of its axis of rotation. By virtue of the construction of the joint, having its bearing cups held in the bores in the separate limb components 16, the joint can easily be dismantled when installed in a vehicle or machine, and yet the bearing cups remain adequately supported against distortion. Claims

1. A hookes joint wherein at least one of the yokes of the joint has its limbs formed as individual separate components secured to a body part of the yoke, each limb having a bore receiving its bearing cup and the limbs and body part having inter-engaging formations which locate the limbs relative to the body part, and the body part of the yoke includes formations which engage end surfaces of the bearing cups, to locate the bearing cups radially of the axis of rotation of the cross-member.

2. A joint according to Claim 1 wherein said limbs are secured to said body part by bolts.

3. A joint substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.